Simple Ride (Hellions Ride Book 6) (5 page)

Tears fill my eyes. I send her all I
can. The Hellions pay well, but what will happen at the next place?
I may not make enough.

I got too comfortable. I stayed too
long. That’s how he found me. Now I have to uproot my boys again
because of my mistakes.

Will they ever get to live their lives
out of the shadow of the past? Will they ever get to be free from
the poor decisions I have made over and over again?

My heart hurts, and the tears freely
fall as I can’t hold them back. Focus, I have to focus. Just like
when I made the move to leave, I must be careful and every step
must be thought out. I can do this. I can start over and keep my
boys away from him.

I make it to Tripp and Doll’s house on
time physically. Mentally, I am a million miles away from the
Catawba Hellions president’s house.

I am dusting the entertainment center
when, for what seems like the millionth time today, I drop
something. Specifically this time, I drop Tripp and Doll’s wedding
picture.

I pick up the shattered frame as tears
fill my eyes again. The love and happiness between them is seen in
the photo. Their children will get to look at this and know they
came from real love. My boys won’t get to see pictures like
that.

I was knocked up with Colton, and my
ex said let’s go to the courthouse so I could be on his work
insurance. There are no pictures, and in my memories—if I block out
what happened after that day—it was a happy occasion.
Unfortunately, it is one of very, very few good
memories.

I thought he would give me the world.
After all, there are few men out there who would marry a chick they
knocked up after only going out three times. There are few men out
there who would so easily step up and take care of their
responsibilities.

On the flip side of the same coin, I
would like to believe there are few men out there who wish to
dominate, control, and manipulate someone they claim to love. Deep
in my soul, I would like to believe there are few men out there who
relish in the power of bringing pain upon someone they love. Deep
in my heart, I would like to believe in the power of real love. I
would like to believe unconditional love does exist.

I don’t want to become a man hater. I
don’t want to become a jaded, bitter woman. I simply want to be me.
I want to be loved for my talents as well as my shortcomings. I
want to be accepted for my beauty and my scars. I want to be me. I
want to be loved from the inside out. I want to heal from the past
and look forward to the future. I want someone who can take on my
baggage and carry the load with me. I want to believe this can
still be possible for me and for my sons.

I have to get my emotions under
control.

I sweep up the fragments on the floor
and carefully remove the picture. I clean the glass out of the
frame and save the shell in case this one means something to Doll.
I will pay for a new frame or have the glass replaced in this one,
whichever she chooses.

I sigh and mumble to myself, “Get it
together, Pami. Every penny counts.”

I am just about done cleaning when
Doll comes in from grocery shopping. I help her unpack her
belongings before getting ready to leave.

“
I accidentally dropped the
picture and it broke. I’m sorry. I’ll pay for a new frame or the
glass if you want to use the same frame,” I go ahead and let her
know as I hand her the photo and the frame.

She looks at it and smiles. “Best day
of my life other than having BW.”

I open the envelope of cash she had
left to pay me today when she reaches out and touches my
hand.

“
No worries. I can get a
new frame.” She pauses and takes me in. “Why are you
shaking?”

Always perceptive, the tiny blonde is.
I should have known she would see through me.

“
I need to give my notice.”
My voice cracks on the final word.

“
Oh, hell no. Triple P,
that ain’t happening. Do you know how hard it is to find someone I
can trust in my house when I’m not home? No, not accepted. If you
need more money, consider it done. If you need a better place to
stay, Tripp will make that happen. I’m not looking for a new
cleaner. I need someone I can trust at the business and at home.
You’re it, Pami, and I’m not letting you go.”

Pride fills me and my heart swells. No
one has ever wanted to keep me around except my own mom. I finally
found a place I belong, and I have to give it up. I have to for my
boys.

“
It’s not the money,
Doll.”

“
Okay, so I told you when
you applied we could get you a nicer place to stay if you wanted.
Tripp can get it done in a matter of days. The boys can move your
stuff.”

“
No,” I stop her from
planning. “I don’t mind my place. I told you before I don’t need
anything fancy. I am fine in my trailer.”

“
Then what?” she asks,
genuinely concerned. “Is your mom sick? We can move her here.” She
states it so simply.

Oh, what a joy it would be to have my
mom and boys with the Hellions where I know he couldn’t get to
them. I can’t do that, though. I can’t burden the club with my
problems.

“
I didn’t plan to stay here
this long, Doll. I’m a free spirit, you know. It’s time to move
on.”

“
I don’t believe you,” she
states. That’s Doll, never one to hold back punches.

“
I have someone who means
something to me. I have to handle it,” I say, tiptoeing around the
truth.

“
Aw, Pami, why didn’t you
tell me you’re in love?” she adds excitedly.

“
It’s not exactly like
that. You just gotta know when to take a chance.”

“
I understand taking
chances. Oh, Pami, we are gonna miss you, but I
understand.”

“
I’ll finish out the next
week, and if you want me to train Corinne, Keri, or someone else,
I’d be glad to. I need to leave by next Saturday,
though.”

“
Thanks for the heads up,
and this gives us time to plan a going away party.” She claps her
hands happily.

Oh, Doll, this is far from a happy
occasion.

Chapter Five

~Boomer~

After two days away, my mind isn’t any
clearer than it was before.

My phone rings with an unknown number.
It could be a potential client, so without thinking, I
answer.

“
How’s that pussy been
treating you?”

“
Excuse me? Who the fuck is
this?” I ask.

“
I marked her; she’s
mine.”

“
What the fuck are you
talking about?”

“
You shouldn’t fuck another
man’s wife. That pussy has my mark. You’re gonna pay and so is she.
Once I find my sons, you’re both dead.”

Silence.

I look at my phone screen, seeing the
call ended. My mind runs wild. Keri? Does Keri have a husband? And
sons? Was that her reference to secrets?

Anger boils in my veins. Some
crazy-ass motherfucker just threatened my life over a piece of
pussy. I don’t know him or his fucking wife.

Sure, I fuck around, but I have no
ties to anyone. I asked Pami, and she declined, so I have no ol’
lady to respect. The pussy I fuck is consensual, and it damn sure
isn’t married.

What secrets does Keri have? What shit
storm is she bringing to the club?

The barflies are given a background
check, but they don’t get any club business, so it’s not the most
thorough. It might be time we reevaluate this policy on the
hang-around whores. Someone has secrets, and secrets in a
motorcycle club cost lives. No life of a brother is worth a piece
of pussy.

Looking at the phone, I make the call.
The Hellions need to know there is something going on, even if it
turns out to be nothing.

“
Shooter,” I bark into the
phone.

“
Brother,” he answers
calmly. That is Shooter: always collected.

“
Ride out.”

“
Where to?”

That simple response is what defines
the Hellions. No questioning why, just take your brother’s back
whenever he calls. Shooter would have my back club or no club, but
he will make sure Tripp, Rex, and the rest of the crew are there to
back me up if needed.

“
I’m a day and half away.
Round up Keri. Fuck, find out about all the bitches at Ruthless.
Every barfly who is affiliated needs to be checked.” I try to think
rationally. It may not be her husband calling me.

“
Consider it done. Where do
you want Keri when you return?”

“
Somewhere no one can find
her before I get there.”

“
You good, man?”

“
Just need some questions
answered, not just for me, but for the whole fucking
club.”

Shooter sighs. “If shit is gonna rain
down on the club, I gotta know now, Boomer.”

Honesty is part of loyalty. “I don’t
know. I got a call. Someone has a husband, one who apparently has a
wife and sons he wants back.”

“
Fuck!” Shooter loses his
cool demeanor.

He has a son—stepson, but Axel is as
much his flesh and blood as Tessie and Rex. If someone took Tessie
and Axel from him, he would go crazy. If someone kept them hidden,
he would go after whoever stood in his way.

“
Day and half tops,” I
remind.

“
Consider it handled.”
Shooter clicks off.

Without another thought, I set off for
home. Fuck with me, fine. Bring shit to my brothers' doorsteps, and
we have a problem. Barfly or not, the Hellions won’t tolerate
problems from an outsider. Whoever her ex is, he just made his last
threat.

The motherfucker is going to die, and
if I have it my way, it will be at my hands for that phone
call.

****

The old hunting cabin is one room, no
decorations. We keep it for the times we need to hide someone or,
in this case, question someone. A fireplace lines one wall with a
couch to the side of it. There is a toilet that has a shower
curtain hanging for privacy. It’s a shithole, but serves its
purpose well. Sitting off the beaten path, no one can find it
unless they are looking.

Shooter and Rex are on the porch
talking when I pull up. Shooter’s short hair is a contrast to the
man bun Rex is sporting. Two completely opposite men, but after a
long road between them, they have a bond that is thicker than
blood.

“
Boomer, how goes it,
brother?” Rex greets.

“
Helluva ride,” I reply,
stepping onto the porch. “She in there?”

“
Yeah, we checked her out,
too. She has an ex-husband. Cop,” Rex answers my next question
before I can ask.

“
Kids?” I wonder if she is
the one now.

“
Can’t have them,” Shooter
answers.

“
Let’s go have a chat with
the wife of a boy in blue,” I say, irritated that she has covered
her past that well.

“
Ex,” Shooter
corrects.

“
Last pussy I fucked sits
in there, the same pussy that wanted to bring up secrets the
morning after. We’ve all got secrets, she said. Two days later, I
have some stranger calling me about fucking his wife and wanting
his sons. The cop was a secret, so what else is she
hiding?”

“
True, but I don’t think
she’s the one,” Rex says.

We enter and see Keri sitting on the
couch, looking tired. Her eyes are swollen from crying, her makeup
smeared, and her hair is a complete mess.

“
Boomer?” She looks up at
me.

My eyes go cold. I feel the betrayal.
She knows more than she has let on.

“
Secrets, Keri.”

She blows out a breath. Rex leans
against the wall casually, crossing his legs at the ankles, while
Shooter stands at the door. I stand in front of her, scowling down
at her.

“
What did you mean the
other day about secrets?”

“
We all have them,” she
whispers, her lip quivering.

Fatigue from my ride and the anger
that someone threatened me have me at my breaking point. Reaching
down, I wrap my hand around her throat, squeezing just enough to
get her attention and hold her still.

She reaches up and holds my wrists,
trying to relieve the pressure.

“
Enough with the word
games. What the fuck are you talkin’ about?”

Her eyes grow wide. “Secrets,” she
chokes out in a whisper.

I push her back against the couch and
straddle her. Releasing her neck, I grab her hands and hold them
over her head. I put my nose to hers, my beard hitting her chin
with every word I speak.

“
What fuckin’
secrets?”

Tears fill her eyes again. “Boomer,
please.”

“
I’m an asshole, so
pleading won’t help you. I could give a shit what the hell happens
to you. You keep talking about secrets, but you don’t share them,
and now I’ve got some man threatening me over pussy and secrets.
It’s time to start talking, Keri. We know you’ve got a cop
husband.”